Largest Scale Ever ‘2012 Busan International Motor Show’ Just One Month Away

Event full of things to see, offers trendy eco-friendly vehicles

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Starting with Press Day on May 24, and the Opening Ceremony on May 25, the 2012 Busan International Motor Show will be held under the theme of "The Voyage of the Green Car across the Ocean" at BEXCO in Busan for 11 days through June 3.

The auto show, which first convened as the inaugural exhibition for BEXCO in 2001, is held biennially as part of efforts to promote the regional automotive industry and galvanize the local economy. The show has become an ultra-large scale event that routinely attracts more than one million visitors.

Reflecting the escalation of the domestic automobile sales market and the sheer popularity of the Busan International Motor Show, this year’s event brings together 22 automobile brands, including 14 foreign brands and five passenger car brands and three commercial vehicle brands from Korea. The exhibition halls at BEXCO (measuring 26,508 sq. meters) will house more than 170 cars and trucks on display. This number far exceeds the 109 cars and trucks that were displayed at the 2010 event, making this year’s Busan International Motor Show the largest ever in scale.

Reflecting the theme of “The Voyage of the Green Car across the Ocean” adopted by the 2012 Busan International Motor Show, most automotive brands from Korea and elsewhere will spotlight their eco-friendly vehicles.

Amid an era of high oil prices, the event will showcase new gasoline and diesel models offering maximized mileage, hybrid vehicles which are becoming increasingly common among ordinary consumers due to technological advances, and electric vehicles, a segment in which automakers from Korea and overseas are competing fiercely to secure a technological edge. This year’s Busan International Motor Show will thus present a variety of things to watch and enjoy, giving visitors an overview of the latest trends in this era of green cars, which emphasize eco-friendliness and energy efficiency more than ever before.

A total of eight Korean automakers, including the top five brands (namely Hyundai, Kia, Renault Samsung, GM Korea and Ssangyong), will participate in the auto show, as well as three commercial vehicle brands, namely Daewoo Bus, Hyundai commercial vehicles and Kia commercial vehicles. The brands will showcase 12 new models, including nine concept cars, two World Premieres to be introduced for the first time, three Asia Premieres, and seven Korea Premieres.

Recognizing the importance of the import vehicle market that is catching on in the Busan and South Gyeongsang regions, foreign brands will also exhibit their popular models for sale in the market, including one Asia Premiere, and 13 Korea Premieres, in introducing 14 of the latest import models.